
12. Ray Williams at Detroit Pistons, April 17, 1982
The Pontiac Silverdome was set to host the NBA’s top two rookies of 1981-82, with New Jersey Nets forward Buck Williams eventually winning Rookie of the Year honors ahead of runner-up Isiah Thomas of the Detroit Pistons.
But on April 17, 1982, it was a player more well-known as the younger brother of one of the NBA’s top stars of the day who stole the show.
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New Jersey guard Ray Williams was an accomplished player in his own right, a starting-caliber backcourt player who could play the 1 or the 2 and did so for six teams over a 10-year career.
The Nets were 43-38 and prepared to close the regular season and head to the playoffs for just the second time in six NBA seasons. The Pistons came in 38-42, out of the postseason discussion but much improved with the additons of Thomas and fellow first-year standout Kelly Tripucka.
The battle between the rooks was basically a standoff. Buck Williams had 22 points and 17 reounds, while Thomas finished with 24 points,
But the star of the 147-132 New Jersey win was Ray Williams, who erupted for a career-high 52 points and added seven assists. It topped his previous career best, set with the New York Knicks on Nov. 9, 1980, by a full 10 points and gave New Jersey a fifth straight win to close the season.